On Wednesday, Airstrikes by Afghan forces in eastern Afganistan killed 45 civilians and Taliban members, local officials said.
The governor of Adraskan District in the eastern Afghanistan province of Heart, Ali Ahmad Faqir Yar, reported at least 8 civilians among the dead.
“Forty-five people had been killed so far in airstrikes by security forces in the Kham Ziarat area, Taliban were among those killed,” Ahmad said.
It is unknown how many of the remaining 37 causalities were civilians and how many were Taliban members.
Although, a Taliban spokesman, Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi has said that there were two airstrikes in Heart, which resulted in the killing of 8 civilians and wounding of 12.
Addressing the situation, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense made a statement saying it was investigating the allegations of civilian casualties by Afghan forces.
“The results of the investigation will be shared with the public and the media. The National Defense and Security Forces have the responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people, in this regard, they use all the opportunities and facilities and will not spare any effort,” the statement said.
A US spokesman for forces in Afghanistan commented saying they had not participated in the airstrikes.